Center for Health Care Strategies

Join the Better Care Playbook next week on October 16 at this preconference symposium, "Social Needs in Healthcare: Turning Evidence into Practice." Complex care experts from across the country will share insights and research on effective strategies for addressing social needs in health care and translating evidence into practice to improve care delivery. Co-hosted by Camden Coalition, The Better Care Playbook, and UPMC Health Plan, this implementation-focused event will help attendees understand successful strategies for adopting evidence-based approaches to address health-related social needs. It's geared toward anyone seeking to address patients’ social needs, including providers, payers, policymakers, researchers, community-based organizations, and patient advocates. Register for the symposium or the full three-day conference. https://bit.ly/4bNxV7r ?? #complexcare #socialcare #sdoh #CenteringCare24

Nutrition insecurity is the most common challenge faced by many Medicaid members, and demand for nutrition supports are high in states that cover nutrition services as a benefit. Recent guidance from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services outlines allowable health-related social needs interventions, including pre-approved services related to nutrition. This brief, developed by the Center for Health Care Strategies in partnership with HealthBegins, can support policymakers who are grappling with how best to design and implement these benefits. It offers approaches for Medicaid policymakers to implement or evolve their nutrition strategy based on insights from states participating in the Medicaid Health-Related Social Needs Implementation Learning Series. The brief and learning series are made possible by Kaiser Permanente through its National Community Benefit Fund at the East Bay Community Foundation. https://bit.ly/4gVKaSM Kathryn Jantz, Amanda Bank, Kaiser Permanente, HealthBegins?

A new report highlights key findings from a nationwide survey on state efforts to promote multisector plans for aging (MPA). As the U.S. population gets older and increasingly diverse, state leaders recognize the need to conduct systems-level, cross-sector planning. An MPA is a state-led, multi-year planning effort that brings together a broad range of stakeholders to collaboratively address the current and future needs of all people aging, including those with disabilities. This report, developed by the Center for Health Care Strategies in partnership with The SCAN Foundation, West Health, and the May & Stanley Smith Charitable Trust, highlights key takeaways from a nationwide survey of states to understand interest in and development of MPAs. The report can inform MPA policy and planning initiatives across the country at the local, state, and federal levels. https://bit.ly/3N7ZoGu Emma Rauscher, MPH, Matthew Phan, Carrie Graham, and Steve Somers

States are increasingly deploying community health workers (CHWs) to meet Medicaid members’ health and social needs. Because CHWs have unique skills that enable them to build trust with members and connect individuals to resources, they are ideally positioned to provide insights into how programs can be designed to better serve communities. This brief offers guidance to help Medicaid managed care organizations incorporate CHW expertise in the design, implementation, and improvement of CHW programs. Based on first-person insights from CHWs across the country, it addresses three broad themes: (1) incorporating CHW insights in program design; (2) supporting the CHW workforce to ensure their success; and (3) engaging CHWs in program improvement. Developed through support from the Community Health Acceleration Partnership (CHAP), the brief draws from CHCS’ work in New Jersey, where a CHW Advisory Group was convened to provide practical input to help MCOs develop CHW-led pilot programs under the state’s Section 1115 waiver. CHCS is grateful to advisory group members Breanna Burke, Cheryl Garfield, Ashlee Harris, Nikki St. Germain, MHA, CHES, and Tiffany Scott. https://bit.ly/4e7KD2z

Engaging community members meaningfully provides valuable insights into their needs — informing policy and program improvements for more equitable, responsive care. Check out these CHCS resources that promote best practices for integrating community perspectives into Medicaid program design and care delivery ??

?? Attention Correctional Leaders ?? Recent Medicaid changes can strengthen health care for people who are incarcerated or returning to the community. This new National Reentry Resource Center webpage provides all you need to know to make the most of these opportunities, including: ?? An overview of recent legislation and guidance ?? A description of the current Medicaid and corrections landscape ?? Upcoming events and key resources Find out how these developments can improve health outcomes and support successful reentry: https://bit.ly/47SsRhc

How can primary care and Medicaid help prevent unnecessary child welfare system involvement? By supporting child and family health and well-being, pediatric and family care providers can help prevent unnecessary child welfare system involvement and reduce unwarranted and often biased reporting to child protective services, which disproportionately impacts families of color. With Medicaid covering over 40 percent of children across the nation, there is significant opportunity for state Medicaid agencies to support primary care practices in building capacity to advance child and family well-being. This critical assistance can promote health equity and prevent child welfare system involvement. This report explores practice-level approaches for implementing effective interventions and recommendations for how Medicaid programs can support practices and enable delivery system reforms that mitigate child welfare involvement. The recommendations align with recently released Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services guidance on best practices to ensure children’s access to Medicaid Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) benefits. https://bit.ly/4etxJMh Kelsey Brykman; Olivia Randi; Ruby Goyal-Carkeek; Conrad N. Hilton Foundation; Kima Taylor

Mental health conditions and substance use disorders (SUD) are significant drivers of the U.S. maternal mortality crisis, particularly during the postpartum period. Despite Medicaid covering two out of every five births nationwide and being the largest payer of behavioral health services, promising models that support pregnant and postpartum individuals with SUD have not yet been widely adopted. With nearly every state now providing 12 months of postpartum Medicaid coverage, states and other key stakeholders have a significant opportunity to promote integrated, family-centered, trauma-informed care that improves health outcomes for pregnant and postpartum individuals and their children. This 10/30 panel will bring together ground-level practitioners and state and health plan leaders to share innovative approaches that better support pregnant and postpartum Medicaid members with mental health conditions and SUD. The discussion will highlight an upcoming report from the Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS), and offer insights and practical examples to help policymakers, health systems, providers, and community-based organizations transform maternal health care to offer critical supports for this oft-hidden population. https://bit.ly/3TS09Yc Karla Silverman, Lisa Asare, Daisy Goodman, Cat Livingston MD, MPH, FAAFP, FACPM, Josefa Scherer

October 10, 1 – 2 pm ET | Join this panel, hosted by the Anne E. Casey Foundation, that will feature experts and state and local officials from across the country who will explore critical opportunities to improve health and justice outcomes for youth reentering their communities after incarceration. https://bit.ly/3Na5SEW

Momentum is growing to prioritize child and adolescent health. The National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine recently released a consensus study on strategies for improving the health and well-being of children, adolescents, and families. For the past four years, CHCS has explored key strategies to reimagine child health care systems in a way that holistically addresses the physical, behavioral, and health-related social needs of children and their families. Through this work, CHCS has partnered with child health stakeholders nationwide to help spur child health transformation. This blog post shares insights from two advisors on the project, Renee Boynton-Jarrett and Ben Danielson, on why child health transformation is needed now more than ever, and what a reimagined system might look like. https://bit.ly/4gH6Ndr RWJF, Armelle Casau, Rachel M Yard, Martha Davis, The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Vital Village Networks, AHSHAY | Allies in Healthier Systems for Health & Abundance in Youth